Saudi University Policy: Overvalued Rankings

Abstract

I read with great interest the News Focus Story “Saudi universities offer cash in exchange for academic prestige” (Y. Bhattacharjee, 9 December 2011, p. [1344][1]) on the practices used by Saudi universities to boost their academic rankings. Just as with fellow astronomer Bob Kirschner, I received an e-mail out of the blue last June from someone I didn't know, offering me an adjunct professorship at King Abdulaziz University (KAU). Attached to the e-mail was a contract for a year, extendable for a second year. Despite the strange way that the offer was made, I was enthusiastic initially. According to the e-mail, I was expected to visit Jeddah for 1 or 2 weeks in the year, “build up a research group (can be discussed later),” do 4 months of work for KAU, and add KAU as a second affiliation to my “[ISIHighlyCited.com][2]” Web page. The offer was extremely attractive financially. They would pay me $6000 per month for a year. In addition, they would provide me with a startup research grant of $80,000. When I called the university to request more details, it became clear to me that the key reason for the offer was not a desire to strengthen my research field at KAU, but solely the fact that I happen to be included in ISIHighlyCited.com. This is a database that lists the 250 most-cited scientists for each of the 22 major subfields of science. Several Nobel prize–winning astronomers are not included, and I doubt whether Albert Einstein would ever have made it onto the list. Nevertheless, ISIHighlyCited.com is an important ingredient for the Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings, regularly quoted by such publications as the Economist and Newsweek. The Shanghai rating is important reading for civil servants, ministers, philanthropists, and potential students throughout the world. It was clear to me that the new KAU adjunct professorship program is designed to boost the ranking of the university artificially by paying highly cited researchers to “sell” their affiliation. I believe passionately that astronomy can be a unique tool for capacity building and global development. Hence, if I had thought that by accepting the KAU offer, I could have helped to build up astronomy in Jeddah or within Saudi Arabia, I would have welcomed the opportunity. Given the circumstances, I reluctantly felt compelled to decline the offer. Three months later, in a quick browse through the astronomy/space sciences section of the ISI Highly Cited Web pages, I counted nine prominent astronomers newly affiliated to the KAU. This outnumbers ISI Highly Cited astronomers at the University of Cambridge in the UK by 50% and exceeds that of any European university. I do not blame KAU or the Saudi authorities for setting up such a program. The problem is the ridiculous system of university rankings, which is exacerbated by the naivety of decision-makers who take these university rankings so seriously. The situation is extremely damaging for academia because the university ranking metrics are often used as the basis for policy-making and funding. ![Figure][3] King Abdulaziz University. CREDIT: AMMAR SHAKER/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS University ranking tables can also be seen in a wider context—namely as part of the constant pressure to be accountable, to produce, and to be “the best in the world.” The Saudi action illustrates the danger of fostering such a competitive, target-based approach in all walks of life. The distorting, sometimes counterproductive, effects of such a philosophy are obvious in areas as diverse as the targeted reduction of hospital waiting lists, published rankings of schools, pressure on traffic wardens to dole out a specific number of parking tickets, and bonuses for bankers that sell large numbers of irresponsible mortgages. We deceive ourselves by insisting that everything can be measured and quantified and that economic accountability should be the most important criterion driving society. How do you measure the cost-effectiveness of inspiring a young child with the excitement of the Universe? [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.334.6061.1344 [2]: http://ISIHighlyCited.com [3]: pending:yes